I appreciate the comments.  I do hate wiring frames. I primarily make nucs 
and it seems like a brilliant idea that if my comb will only be used in 
brood nests it does not to be reinforced.  I am sure my lone customer 
would be miffed if his nucs were full of drone comb, but you have all 
convinced me that if I let them draw a lot of comb, I shouldn't get 
excessive drone comb.  I will make a few nucs this spring with a frame of 
brood, a queen cell and three frames without foundation.  I will lay a 
bead of wax along the top bar, like Dee suggested.  I will compare the 
results to colonies started with three frames of foundation. 

If I hate wiring, why not use plastic foundation?  My primary concern with 
plastic is its reusability.  I was at a friend's place when he was 
rendering frames.  When you render wax foundation frames all you are left 
with is wires... with plastic there is this warped unusable junk.  I have 
often heard people talk about reusing plastic foundation by steaming off 
the old comb and then putting them back into colonies.  I presume the 
plastic is then redipped in wax and put into colonies.  

Plastic starts to look like a sustainable (and highly profitable) practice 
if you can reuse the plastic.  Does anyone have any expereince with this?  
How many times can you steam a plastic frame and still have it be useful? 

Presumably the most sustainable practice is to have the bees draw out 
their own comb.  I will give it a try and I thank everyone for the advice.



  



  

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